strikes of the war against japan at the marshall islands. the current uss enterprise was also on the way home on 11th september, 2001. just over three weeks later, she would launch the first strikes against al qaeda and the taliban in afghanistan. now imagine yourself aboard uss enterprise on the night of those first strikes. here's part of what her captain told the crew. aboard imper enterprise. good evening. the last time america actually went to war to defend against an attack on the homeland was almost exactly sixty years ago. when treacherous enemy conducted a surprise attack on pearl harbor. during that attack, a different enterprise was at sea on the way home and was ultimately in a response to that difficult and bloody task of soundly defeating an enemy. and ever since then when america has gone war it's been to protect freedom, and our vital interest in those of our allies. we are have not had to defend our homelands since december 7, 18941. however on september 11 the our enterprise was at sea on the way home during a treacherous n